Battles & Wars › World War II › Lockheed (later Lockheed Martin)
Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson
1910–1990; led the Skunk Works 1943–1975· Person· Arms makers & war industry
Well documentedSolid records, physical evidence or scientific consensus.
Lockheed's chief designer, who founded the Skunk Works and shaped some 40 aircraft, including the U-2 and SR-71.
See it on the Battles & Wars map →What happened
Born in 1910 in Ishpeming, Michigan, to Swedish immigrants, Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson studied at the University of Michigan and joined Lockheed in 1933. He co-designed the P-38 Lightning and the Constellation airliner, then founded the Skunk Works in 1943. There he led the P-80 jet, the F-104 Starfighter, the U-2 and the Mach 3 SR-71. His '14 rules' demanded small teams, few reports and close contact with the customer. He retired in 1975.
Why it matters
He set the model for fast, secretive aircraft development that gave the US a reconnaissance edge through much of the Cold War.
Legacy and how we know
His autobiography 'Kelly: More Than My Share of It All' (1985), Lockheed archives, declassified CIA histories, and honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1964).
Connections (3)
▸Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson founded and led the Lockheed Skunk WorksWell documented
The connection
Johnson founded the Skunk Works in 1943 and ran it for 32 years. His '14 rules' gave a small team broad authority, minimal reports and close daily contact with the customer. Under him it produced the P-80, U-2, A-12 and SR-71. His deputy Ben Rich succeeded him in 1975.
When and how
Burbank, California, 1943–1975; Johnson, Ben Rich and teams of a few dozen to a few hundred engineers and mechanics.
How we know
Johnson's written rules, his autobiography and Rich's memoir, plus CIA and Air Force records of the programs.
Debates and open questions
How much credit belongs to Johnson versus his team is debated; he even doubted the faceted stealth design his successor Ben Rich pushed through.
▸Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson co-designed the P-38 at Lockheed (later Lockheed Martin)Well documented
The connection
Johnson joined Lockheed in 1933 as a young engineer and soon helped fix the Electra airliner's tail design. He co-designed the P-38 Lightning, a twin-boom fighter that first flew in 1939; about 10,000 were built, and P-38s shot down Admiral Yamamoto's plane in 1943. He became Lockheed's chief engineer in 1952.
When and how
Burbank, California, 1933–1975; working at first under chief engineer Hall Hibbard.
How we know
Lockheed design records, Johnson's autobiography and company histories.
Debates and open questions
How to split credit for the P-38 between Johnson and chief engineer Hall Hibbard is debated; both worked on its early concept.
▸Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson designed the SR-71 BlackbirdWell documented
The connection
Johnson led the design of the A-12 for the CIA and its Air Force version, the SR-71. It flew above Mach 3 at about 85,000 feet, built of titanium to survive the heat of air friction. Some of that titanium was secretly bought from the Soviet Union through third parties.
When and how
Skunk Works, Burbank, 1959–1964; the SR-71 first flew on December 22, 1964, and served until 1998.
How we know
Declassified CIA and Air Force records, Johnson's logbooks and memoir, and surviving aircraft in museums.
Debates and open questions
Widely repeated claims that over 4,000 missiles were fired at SR-71s are unverified; none was ever shot down.